Comstock's Talks

There are more than 3,000 influencers in Sacramento, who make their living by building an audience, establishing a brand and creating compelling content online. We asked a few of the most prominent how they learned to turn their lives into art -- and commodify it.

Written by Vanessa Labi

Read and produced by Robin Epley

Q: An employee who has been here only three months just quit. In his exit interview, he said there wasn't enough work to do within his department, and he was bored, so he looked to move on. I asked why he hadn't applied for any number of open positions we have. He said he didn't because his manager said he couldn't change jobs when he'd been here less than a year. This is true. Is this a policy we should keep?

This Evil HR Lady column ran in the January 2020 issue of Comstock's magazine.

Written by: Suzanne Lucas

Read by: Shoka

Produced by: Robin Epley

Read more here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/article/dilemma-month-why-new-employee-looking-transfer

We are planning to make a job offer to a very strong candidate. Of course, salary is negotiable, but what about other things that a candidate wants to negotiate?

This Evil HR Lady column ran in the December 2019 issue of Comstock's magazine.

Written by: Suzanne Lucas

Read by: Shoka

Produced by: Robin Epley

Read more here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/qa/dilemma-month-are-perks-and-benefits-negotiable-salary

I just found out a coworker is making more than I am, even though I have been here longer. How can I bring this up to my manager without giving away how I found out? Can I use this as leverage for a raise?

Written by Suzanne Lucas

Read by Shoka

This column appeared in the November 2019 edition of Comstock's magazine.

Comstock's Talks features audio versions of some of our top stories, including our popular Evil HR Lady series by Suzanne Lucas, print features on topics such as the effects of COVID-19 on the arts industry and the fight over water rights in the Central Valley, and other news that will help you stay up to date on the state of business in the region.

Reader: Shoka, associate editor

Producer: Robin Epley

Music: Red Wing by A.A. Aalto (CC BY-NC 3.0)

Last year had been a strong year for the performing arts in the region, and 2020 was building on that success, which has led to hope from some local arts leaders that this progress will continue despite the unprecedented shutdown. Read more at https://www.comstocksmag.com/longreads/out-spotlight.

If employees are scheduled to begin working at 6 a.m., but no one from management shows up until 7 a.m. to unlock the doors, can the workers be penalized and docked an hour of pay?

Jennifer Siebel Newsom is passionate about several issues, but perhaps none more than the gender wage gap. And she's using her clout as California's first partner and a celebrated documentary filmmaker — whose work and advocacy primarily focus on cultural issues and empowering women — to raise awareness.

Only a handful of breweries in the Capital Region focus on these classic styles, yet some area brewers believe the balance is starting to shift back from ales to lagers. As the Sacramento craft beer scene continues to mature, will local drinkers abandon their ales and learn to love the lager?

The Capital Region offers a mix of destinations within an hour's drive of Sacramento. We profile four of them. (Read by Robin Epley; original story by Graham Womack)